Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and LCPUFA in relation to birth weight

Edwin Van Wijngaarden; Donald Harrington; Roni Kobrosly; Sally W. Thurston; Todd O'Hara; Emeir M. McSorley; Gary J. Myers; Gene E. Watson; Conrad F. Shamlaye; J. J. Strain; Philip W. Davidson

doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.002

Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and LCPUFA in relation to birth weight

Edwin Van Wijngaarden, Donald Harrington, Roni Kobrosly, Sally W. Thurston, Todd O'Hara, Emeir M. McSorley, Gary J. Myers, Gene E. Watson, Conrad F. Shamlaye, J. J. Strain, Philip W. Davidson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive regarding the impact of coexposure to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and methylmercury (MeHg) from fish consumption during pregnancy on measures of fetal development. Objectives: We evaluated the association between birth weight and prenatal maternal LCPUFA status and MeHg exposure in the Republic of Seychelles. Methods: We measured LCPUFA in maternal whole blood collected at 28weeks of gestation and following delivery and MeHg in maternal hair obtained at delivery. There were 230 births with complete data on birth weight and covariates. Multiple linear regression models controlled for infant sex, gestational age, maternal age, smoking during pregnancy, intrapartum weight gain, prepregnancy body mass index, maternal socioeconomic status, parity, gestational diabetes, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Results: The average birth weight was 3252g (range 1654-4450) and the average gestational age was 39weeks (range 34-41). Prenatal MeHg exposure and maternal LCPUFA status were not associated with birth weight. Infant sex and length of gestation were the only predictors, with male sex and increased gestational age consistently associated with greater birth weight. Conclusions: These findings do not support a relationship between prenatal exposure to LCPUFA and/or MeHg from fish consumption and birth weight.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	273-278
Number of pages	6
Journal	Annals of Epidemiology
Volume	24
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.002
State	Published - Apr 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Birth weight
Fatty acids
Maternal exposure
Methylmercury compounds
Unsaturated

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10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.002

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@article{33e4d1436b40464081c8d56b05dc057f,

title = "Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and LCPUFA in relation to birth weight",

abstract = "Background: Epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive regarding the impact of coexposure to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and methylmercury (MeHg) from fish consumption during pregnancy on measures of fetal development. Objectives: We evaluated the association between birth weight and prenatal maternal LCPUFA status and MeHg exposure in the Republic of Seychelles. Methods: We measured LCPUFA in maternal whole blood collected at 28weeks of gestation and following delivery and MeHg in maternal hair obtained at delivery. There were 230 births with complete data on birth weight and covariates. Multiple linear regression models controlled for infant sex, gestational age, maternal age, smoking during pregnancy, intrapartum weight gain, prepregnancy body mass index, maternal socioeconomic status, parity, gestational diabetes, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Results: The average birth weight was 3252g (range 1654-4450) and the average gestational age was 39weeks (range 34-41). Prenatal MeHg exposure and maternal LCPUFA status were not associated with birth weight. Infant sex and length of gestation were the only predictors, with male sex and increased gestational age consistently associated with greater birth weight. Conclusions: These findings do not support a relationship between prenatal exposure to LCPUFA and/or MeHg from fish consumption and birth weight.",

keywords = "Birth weight, Fatty acids, Maternal exposure, Methylmercury compounds, Unsaturated",

author = "{Van Wijngaarden}, Edwin and Donald Harrington and Roni Kobrosly and Thurston, {Sally W.} and Todd O'Hara and McSorley, {Emeir M.} and Myers, {Gary J.} and Watson, {Gene E.} and Shamlaye, {Conrad F.} and Strain, {J. J.} and Davidson, {Philip W.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was supported by grants 5-R01-ES010219, 5-R01-ES015578, P30-ES01247, and P20-RR016430 from the US National Institutes of Health and by the Government of Seychelles. The funding organizations played no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the team at the Child Development Centre and the technical support of staff of the Seychelles Hospital and health centers. ",

year = "2014",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.002",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

pages = "273--278",

journal = "Annals of Epidemiology",

issn = "1047-2797",

publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and LCPUFA in relation to birth weight

AU - Van Wijngaarden, Edwin

AU - Harrington, Donald

AU - Kobrosly, Roni

AU - Thurston, Sally W.

AU - O'Hara, Todd

AU - McSorley, Emeir M.

AU - Myers, Gary J.

AU - Watson, Gene E.

AU - Shamlaye, Conrad F.

AU - Strain, J. J.

AU - Davidson, Philip W.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported by grants 5-R01-ES010219, 5-R01-ES015578, P30-ES01247, and P20-RR016430 from the US National Institutes of Health and by the Government of Seychelles. The funding organizations played no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the team at the Child Development Centre and the technical support of staff of the Seychelles Hospital and health centers.

PY - 2014/4

Y1 - 2014/4

N2 - Background: Epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive regarding the impact of coexposure to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and methylmercury (MeHg) from fish consumption during pregnancy on measures of fetal development. Objectives: We evaluated the association between birth weight and prenatal maternal LCPUFA status and MeHg exposure in the Republic of Seychelles. Methods: We measured LCPUFA in maternal whole blood collected at 28weeks of gestation and following delivery and MeHg in maternal hair obtained at delivery. There were 230 births with complete data on birth weight and covariates. Multiple linear regression models controlled for infant sex, gestational age, maternal age, smoking during pregnancy, intrapartum weight gain, prepregnancy body mass index, maternal socioeconomic status, parity, gestational diabetes, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Results: The average birth weight was 3252g (range 1654-4450) and the average gestational age was 39weeks (range 34-41). Prenatal MeHg exposure and maternal LCPUFA status were not associated with birth weight. Infant sex and length of gestation were the only predictors, with male sex and increased gestational age consistently associated with greater birth weight. Conclusions: These findings do not support a relationship between prenatal exposure to LCPUFA and/or MeHg from fish consumption and birth weight.

AB - Background: Epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive regarding the impact of coexposure to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and methylmercury (MeHg) from fish consumption during pregnancy on measures of fetal development. Objectives: We evaluated the association between birth weight and prenatal maternal LCPUFA status and MeHg exposure in the Republic of Seychelles. Methods: We measured LCPUFA in maternal whole blood collected at 28weeks of gestation and following delivery and MeHg in maternal hair obtained at delivery. There were 230 births with complete data on birth weight and covariates. Multiple linear regression models controlled for infant sex, gestational age, maternal age, smoking during pregnancy, intrapartum weight gain, prepregnancy body mass index, maternal socioeconomic status, parity, gestational diabetes, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Results: The average birth weight was 3252g (range 1654-4450) and the average gestational age was 39weeks (range 34-41). Prenatal MeHg exposure and maternal LCPUFA status were not associated with birth weight. Infant sex and length of gestation were the only predictors, with male sex and increased gestational age consistently associated with greater birth weight. Conclusions: These findings do not support a relationship between prenatal exposure to LCPUFA and/or MeHg from fish consumption and birth weight.

KW - Birth weight

KW - Fatty acids

KW - Maternal exposure

KW - Methylmercury compounds

KW - Unsaturated

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U2 - 10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.002

DO - 10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.002

M3 - Article

C2 - 24525104

AN - SCOPUS:84895498158

SN - 1047-2797

VL - 24

SP - 273

EP - 278

JO - Annals of Epidemiology

JF - Annals of Epidemiology

IS - 4

ER -

Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and LCPUFA in relation to birth weight

Abstract

Keywords

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